Mamata Banerjee reaches Digha for Rath Yatra, BJP says she is trying to become ‘true Hindu’

Kolkata: With West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reaching Digha on Wednesday, two days ahead of Rath Yatra in newly-constructed Digha Jagannath Temple, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari blamed the Chief Minister trying to become “true Hindu” and claimed that BJP will win all 16 seats in the East Midnapore in 2026 assembly polls.

Banerjee has reached Digha, where she will participate in the 'Rath Yatra' on Friday. She is likely to review the preparations for the Ratha Yatra from the new Jagannath Temple, people in the know said.

On Thursday, the chief minister is likely to participate in the 'Netra Utsav’, a festival celebrated a day before the Rath Yatra. The ‘Netra Utsav’ is an auspicious occasion when Lord Jagannath, along with Balabhadra and Subhadra, reappears to the public after a 14-day seclusion following the Snana Yatra.


BJP leadership in Bengal has been slamming the Chief Minister over the newly constructed Jagannath temple, since its consecration, and Rath Yatra as well.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari today said, “That (Jagannath Dham) in Digha is not a temple. It is a piece of art and sculpture. If Banerjee is a true Hindu, she must raise the saffron flag on the temple, not a yellow flag.”

Adhikari claimed that Trinamool will be defeated in all 16 seats in East Midnapore in the 2026 assembly polls.

Adhikari pointed out that he will participate in multiple Rath Yatras in Kolkata and East Midnapore’s Mecheda. In Mecheda Jagannath temple, Mahaprasad has been brought from Puri and it will be distributed for the next few days. I will participate in ISKCON Mecheda Rath Yatra.”

“You people now keep a watch, what the Chief Minister will do in Digha to become a true Hindu and establish herself as Hindu,” Adhikari said.

Meanwhile, Kolkata is gearing up for the 54th Annual Rathayatra organized by ISKCON Kolkata, which will begin on June 25. The celebration carries the theme of “Let Peace Prevail”. This year, Lord Jagannath’s chariot, is likely to roll on newly fitted tyres which have been originally designed for Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft, replacing the Boeing 747 tyres that had been used since 1977.